NBA Draft Lottery: 5 things we learned

19 Mai 2017

Keep it or trade it?

The NBA Draft lottery is always filled with excitement, disappointment, great outfits, even better reactions and the potential for franchises to have their trajectory altered for better or worse over the next decade. And in 2018, who knows, it could very well be the No. 1 overall pick once again, depending on what the Nets are able to do this offseason. The Celtics should take Jackson if they are comfortable with his character.

While Boston was going to get a top-four pick, the Los Angeles Lakers had to sweat out the lottery. Now, the clock is on, and what Boston does with the No. 1 overall pick will be scrutinized for the next several years. "Sometimes having the second pick is better than the first".

And so our intention would be to make the pick unless someone blows us away with an offer.

But the craziness of this terrible trade gets worse when amplified by the fact that the Nets don't even own their pick NEXT year, a time when they again look to be terrible. Although, after Cho's comments, it sounds like they have their sights on keeping their lottery pick.

Our data has shown guards to be more hard to project than big men at the next level, as some guards are able to transfer their shooting to the National Basketball Association while others possess shooting flaws that aren't exposed until they play against bigger and faster defenses in the National Basketball Association.

By landing the No. 2 pick for a third season in a row, the Lakers not only will keep their pick in what is a talent-laden draft, but also ensures the Lakers will keep what would have been an unprotected pick in 2019 - the last vestiges of the Dwight Howard trade in 2012.

That gave Celtics fans a day to dream about next year's team, which could add a college star like Washington's Markelle Fultz; at least one fan showed up at Wednesday's game with Fultz's name written on his Celtics T-shirt in marker. Scroll to the bottom to see if you got it right.

The Celtics obviously have the ability to sweeten any deal that would include this year's No. 1 overall pick.

While Brown made an impact this season with his athleticism and high basketball I.Q., the other two could be far removed from their chance to play on an NBA roster.

The timing was ideal for the Celtics, as Brooklyn finished with the worst record in the league. "There's a lot of good feelings around the Celtics right now".

The Celtics are back fighting for championships, a place they seemingly belong.

Thomas is a free agent after next season. I don't think the Frenchmen Frank Ntilikina will be off the board yet, and the likelihood that one, if not both, of D'Aaron Fox and Dennis Smith Jr. will be available too.

And the Lakers will get a chance to take one of them after beating the odds to move up. I want to win now. You've got a young person you can help mold and grow with.

"I try to just focus on what I'm doing on the court and let those guys focus on making those decisions", Thomas said.